Electrode control



Dec. 28, 1948.

R. L. HINDS ELECTRODE CONTROL Filed Aug. 25, 1945 Patented Dec. 28, 1948 1 f STATES 'P'A'FENiT OFFICE- En-Eo'rnom: con'rnoL Roherth. Hinds, Tnldo, hio..

Alppl'ieatibnfiugusbZS, 194e, swarm: 612*;674

2;Claims.. (01119-26).

This invention. relates to. features of adaptabil ity: and .performanceemaintenance, in electrodes. more particularly forvhanri tools.

invention has; utility: when. incorporated:

irr. connection with. welding and soldering; appa.

ratus-,,especially'in the. directing or handle:clontirol."

Fig, 2 is aside elevation; with parts brokcm.

away; orthetwo electrodegrip or directinghan dleof Fig. 11;:

Fig. 3: is an: enlarged view from the left of: the 1 grip ofpFig -p 2;;

- Fig.4 is an; enlarged: view from the rightz-or' electrodeprotruding end oi the gripof Fig; 2; and.-

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of an electrode: having: an. offset or. angular" direction: from the-handle.

Ata Wall fixture. l', aafittingjJ may be thrust; into position; for conducting, thru. a. conduit: 3,. normal: line. voltage to a housing 4"v im which: is: located. a; step-down transformer. A strap: han..-- dleextendsl across: over the housing14= At. terrminals G... 1,, highen amperagetake-oit leads on lines: 8,. 9., .may'be connected. Throwinginroi. a; t gle; switch iii-cutsthe-transformer inzionsup ply-of electriccurrent tolthe; leads 8;. &-.. Allight'. L islocated.onlthe-housing: 4 between: the switch. 10 and the:- terminals 6, 1 I

The respectiveleads 8;.9'; have: a. stranded con-.- ductmrwire core I'2'i enveloped by insulation [3 for carrying the high amperage and low voltage electric current. An instanceof the practice is to take online currentfrom. the fixture-l. of. say 110' volt 60' cycle alternating electric current, which at a normal load of 13%; amperes is stepped down in voltage tothe range of' 3 volts, with the amperage available up to" 800 amperes as: 100% overload is approached.

A1 grip islprovided having an outer fiberrinsuia tion cylinder. 14. At the remote end frpml the transformer housing 4, the; grip. handle. outer shell: or. tube; M has flush therewith a shortxtube section: 15 back of which is; amairchamberregibn Bit o: a'secondtube section. l1; medially imtlfre-grip I4. These two sections l5, 11, have press fitted therein a fiber tube I8. Diametrically in the tubular way thru this plural ply handle is a 2.: glass-fiber insulationpartition; I 9a. Spacedslightl'y" back from the flush end of the'handle tubular. sections; [5, L8; radial pins. are embedded on: a; diameter approximately at right. anglesto the partition: lit. The; inner ends of theseapins. 2,0 sufficientlyengage metallic guide tubesi 2.1;. whichzmaw be of..brass,xto have the: ends of the;

tubes l5 i8 register flushlwith. the grip handle;

end! of: tube l4.

Frictionally heldnor'by soldercin each: ofithesei guide. tnbeslill is. an electrical conductor or electrode sleeveor holder- 22 extending generally; thruouuther length of: the" handle or grip and: therebeyond to have longitudinal slots 23 from: aslant cut-01f: on tapered end 24. The Y diametrical slots. 231mm: the end 24.? provide a yielding:

wall endsection ,for the holder 22. This yielding: sectionis desirably-- given: an initial spring set. at

a slighttoollapse, thereby to provide a normalless diameter: tubular clearance for a carbon pencil-r or. cylindrical electrode: rod. 25.

From a; port 261 in a top-cornerof theboxx or housing 4, a knob 21, as protruding, has a stem or.- plungerl'at. Remoteirom the electrode-protruding; end; 29" of: the grip I14, the handle. rear' end-:30isopento-the'open rear ends of the sleeves: or tubes 22. tubaZZ-it lodges against the after end'ofa carbon: 25. Thrust-mg; thereon, squeezes the electrode carbom'liint'o thespring seat or gripping portion. 23; 24;.

Inluhe-two-electrode assembly, the fiber glass spacer l.-9-.is ampleinsulation: to: avoid shorting:

thereacross, even with the electrodes 25 in close proximity.. Furthermore; the character of. the

fiberglassmaterialzis such that molten metal or' used solder: has not atendency to adhere or cling; thenetol. 'Ilherefrom it follows that anyspitting sputtering: or; slopping of molten material: at a. welding brazingi orxsoldering operation,

at. ail: times leaves. the working. regions of: the. exposed tool electnodessclean; The slant cut-back;

25%., is suoln that. at all. times. there; may be: an.

exposed side portion or corner of thecarb'on: 25

They-fragile or easilyfractured carbon. is n'otexposed: for'bneaking; hazard. In: fact; the hand; tool: may be dropped; or' even flung down; with tic-rupture. of the" carbon working. end or point.

The plunger: 21% is: conveniently located to the v operatonsorthai: as the carbonzfl akes off in: use.

on a;diifiererrtf point reiation bedesired; the thrusting; nicely quickly brings the desired result. and: the: auxiliary plunger: tool: ZSLmay' be" replaced in the housing 4 for reuse, as further occasion requires.

Bydirecting the plunger 28 into: a.

Ha dle chamber portion 3| inward from the end 3, has therein a short strap, ring or sleeve portion terminal 32 for silver solder or other anchoring with a sleeve 22 and wraps back of stranded wire I2 in the positive assembly of a lead thereto. Low internal resistance conductor course is thus provided for the high amperage from the transformer in the housing 4, not only to the handle or grip l4, but therethru to the carbon pinching or squeezing seat portion 23, 24.

In practice the proportion of the connections thru the handle or grip 14 from the conductor lead wires I2 are ample to hold down, if not fully eliminate heating or transmission loss from the transformer to the work to such extent that the insulation l3 and the grip l4 do not evidence temperature rise sufiicient to be uncomfortable to the operator. A factor to hold down the heat at the grip 14, even as might be conducted back from the work, is the dead air space or chamber I8, as well as the open space regions 3] along opposite sides of the partition l9.

With the electrodes 25 of diameter the current demand may be run up to 200 amperes.

Working speed is of importance, especially on small or delicate work, as in signalling equipment, such as radio, radar, telephone, and like apparatus, as well as for household and other small motors, and requirements for connections, whether or not such be electrical of lead-zinc solder, silver solder, or even brazing or welding. Timing for lead-zinc solder on rather small electrical connections has been checked as .038 second.

There may be, on occasion, purpose for extending the electrode some distance from a grip 33. In which instance, instead of a holder sleeve or tube 22 in the handle, a rod 34 has the lead connection 32 thereto (Fig. The rod 34 as protruding from end 35 of the grip 33, may, at an appropriate or selected angle have brazed or silver-solder connection 36 to the electrode holder sleeve 22.

The low transmission resistance thru the grips I4, 33, is a factor of electric power consumption economy. For the heat operation upon the work being undertaken, the resistance is producing practically all of its heat right in the carbon electrode from its pinch seat contact region 23 of the holder sleeve 22. from the low voltage. The high amperage has but a short heat resistance distance to travel in the electrodes and the short bridging distance of the work therebetween.

Importance follows for practical ranges of control with a retained simplified construction. With a layout for the secondary or working circuit in the range of 3.19 volts, the practice herein with but 3.1 volts evidences the low internal resistance of the circuit as taking the high amperage load. The voltage drop for the work is, under the operation herein, held to a constant, or close thereto, even with a wide range of amperes passing.

The pinching of the electrode 25 at the region 23, 24, of the sleeve or tube 22, localizes the resistance to the electrode 25 as exposed, and say the solder of the work to be fused, with its low resistance bridging between the carbons. With the carbon 25 flush with the longer side of the tube 22, so that there be but the slant carbon exposure, spaced by the thin fiber glass partition l9, experience herein has been not to have sput- There is slight hazard Number tering or flashing, when in the range of 3 volts, fusing of the solder is had.

The character of the carbon 25 is a factor. 3"" diameter carbon, termed in the trade as hard. at flush on 15 seconds timing is automatic control for 7 a. Outward thrusting and the current control is 6 a.; A" 5 a., and in all this no voltage drop from 3 volts. For trade designated soft carbon dia., adjustments showing flush 22 amperes, protruding 21 a., protruding V 19 4 a. Here, as with the hard carbon, there was no voltage drop from 3 volts. With soft carbon and larger diameter, amperage is built up, as for diameter soft carbon, difierent adjustments show protruding 290 a., 2" a.

Total elimination of sparking or flashing, is with absence of actinic and ultra violet rays, with the energ in the heat ray range for efficient operation.

The low voltage allows compact assembly, even for a two-electrode holder. Herein a holder with its electrodes assembled for working, has a weight of 8 oz. For comparable range of work, higher voltage requirements with amperage control not as herein at the work, the mass of such other tool calls for 24 oz. and up. This means for applicants a tool less operator fatigue and resultant increased output.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrode directing holder comprising a tubular insulation portion, a partition therein, conductor leads into the holder at opposite sides of the partition, an open ended electrode mounting conductor sleeve on each side of the partition connected to a lead and extending from the insulation portion beyond the partition and there having its end tapered back toward the partition. the two sleeve ends thus having their tapered ends diverging to form a V open in extent away from the tubular insulation partition, and an electrode in each sleeve and protruding into the V.

2. An electrode directing holder comprising a cylindrical tubular insulation portion, a fiber glass diametrical partition protruding therefrom, conductor leads into the holder at opposite sides of the partition, an open ended electrode mounting conductor sleeve on each side of the partition and extending from the tubular insulation portion beyond the protruding partition and there having its end tapered back toward the partition, the two sleeve ends thus having their tapered ends diverging to form a V open in extent away from the tubular insulation portion. and an electrode in each sleeve and protruding into the V to be there spaced by the partition.

ROBT. L. HINDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,690,101 Burns Nov. 6, 1928 1,862,653 Bean June 14, 1932 1,869,328 Tobey July 26, 1932 1,869,448 l/Voodring Aug. 2, 1932 2,162,615 Harlan June 13, 1939 2,180,665 Bruggerman Nov, 21, 1939 2,422,265 Squires June 17, 1947 

